Far Eastern University averted disaster with a strong finishing kick to complete a sweep of Jose Rizal University, 25-15, 25-9, 25-23, in Pool B of the 2025 Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Preseason Unity Cup Saturday at the Playtime FilOil Centre in San Juan.
The Lady Tamaraws recovered from a 22-23 deficit in the third frame after setter Tin Ubaldo won a joust, followed by Ann Asis service winner, before the Lady Bombers shot themselves in the foot after Nicole Deala’s attack went straight to the net.
Asis and Gerzel Petallo led the National Invitationals Batangas Leg titlist’s balanced scoring with eight points each.
“Siguro kailangan lang namin gumalaw sa gustong galawin ng mga coaches namin. Kasi nasa training na namin yun and kailangan na lang naming i-apply sa mga games namin,” said Petallo, who had six attacks and two aces.
Mitzi Panangin and Faida Bakanke scored six markers each while Kyle Pendon, Frenchie Premaylon and Ia David scored five each for FEU, which has yet to drop a set since sweeping the three-game Luzon stop of the Invitationals.
The Lady Tamaraws controlled the first two frames but struggled in the third set of their opening match in the league, backed by Shakey’s Pizza Parlor, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken, Potato Corner and R and B Milk Tea.
The Lady Tamaraws rallied from a five-point hole, 12-17, in the third frame and took a 21-20 advantage off a Bakanke hit.
Bakanke, however, committed back-to-back errors that put JRU back on top by one. FEU knotted it at 22 but a Petallo attack miscue gave the Lady Bombers their last taste of the lead.
Deala paced JRU with seven points while Angelica Yongco and Gayle Batara had four markers each.
JRU will try to bounce back against Arellano University as action in the competition, supported by Asics, Mikasa, Smart Sports, Summit, Team Rebel Sports, Belo Deo, Eurotel- Apo View Hotel, Batangas Country Club, Executive Optical, Baic Auto Philippines, SM Tickets and PusoP.com as technical partners, resumes on Sunday.
Games in the SSL Preseason Unity Cup are available live and on demand via PusoP.com and Solar Sports.
